Wedge fastener for scraper blades



Feb 1940- A. K. Jol-lNsdN 89,745

WEDGE FASTENER FOR SCRAPER BLADES Filed March 7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 6, 1940. A. K. JOHNSON .WEDGE FASTENER FOR SCRAPER BLADES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 7, 1939 Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES ear-em trier.

WEDGE FASTENER FOR scRAPEia BLADES Albert K. Johnson, Fargo, N. Dak. .Application March 7, 1939, Serial No. 260,425 3 Glaims. (01. 37-443) This invention relates to scrapers and more particularly to ascraper having a removable blade or shoe and means for-removably but securely holding the same in engagement with the scraper. I One object of the invention is to provide the scraper with a blade or shoe which is held in place by securing means consisting of a suitable number of headed pins or bolts and wedging means so engaged with the bolts thatthe bolts will be drawn tightly into place and the blade held in its proper position and prevented from slipping or accidentally becoming detached from the scraper.

' Another object of the invention is to so form the securing means that a number of bolts may be engaged and secured at the same time, the wedges which engage the bolts being also movable at the same time to release the bolts when removal of the blade is desired.

Another object of the invention is to so apply the wedges to the bolts that during use of the scraper, force exerted will be in a direction to tighten the bolts and firmly hold the blade in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved securing means which is of simple construction, easy to apply, and also easy to loosen when removal of the blade is desired.

The invention is illustrated in the accompany-v Fig. dis a perspective view of a bolt and companion wedge.

Fig.5 is a sectional view showing a modified form of blade and securing means therefor.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary viewlooking at the front of the blade.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale,

' taken on the line 7-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing another modified construction.

Fig. 9 is a view taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 8.

Fig; 10 is a perspective view of the fastener bar the type used on road scraping machines and the like. This scraper, which is disposed in an upright position, has been shown formed with the usual vertical curvature and has its lower portion of reduced thickness, as shown at 2, to pro- 5 vide a shoulder 3, against which bears the upper edge of a removable blade or shoe t formed of steel and having a sharpened lower edge. Openings 5, having their forward end portions reamed out as shown at ii, are formed through the blade 10 5, scraper l and reinforcing plate 7. These openings are arranged in groups, as shown, and while in the illustration, each group consists of two openings through which bolts 8 are passed, it is to be understood that each group may consist -15 of additional openings, if desired. It will also be noted that there are companion groups, the number of which will vary according to the length of the scraper and its blade or shoe.

After the bolts have been passed through the openings 5, they must be secured in order that the blade will be firmly held in place. In order to do so, there have been provided wedges 9 in the form of metal blocks which fit within openshort of the thick heel end of the block and divides the block into fingers or arms I3 for engaging in recesses Hi formed in opposite side portions of the bolts 8. The ends oi'the recesses are cut at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bolts, thus providing abrupt shoulders for engagement by the sloping outer surfaces of the arms l3, and, from an inspection of Fig. 3, it will be seen that when the wedging blocks are shifted longitudinally in the right direction, a cam action will take place which will draw the bolts tightly into place and establish a wedging fit which will cause the bolts to be held in place and the blade firmly secured. I

A recess iii is formed across the heel end of each block to receive a tongue it at one end of each opening is, thereby creating interlocking engagement between the wedging blocks and the bars H and maintaining proper engagement between the bars and blocks. The wedging blocks of one group extend in a direction opposite to that in which the blocks of the companion group 5o extend and when the two bars H are shifted longitudinally toward each other, the blocks will be shifted longitudinally toward each other into wedging engagement with the bolts. In order to shift the bars longitudinally, there has been provided a draw bolt ll passed through the outwardly projecting ears of brackets [8 carried by confronting ends of the bars, and it will be readily understood that by tightening the nut IQ of the bolt, the bars will be drawn toward each other and the blocks moved into wedging engagement with the bolts. By removing or loosening the bolt the bars may be shifted away from each other until the tongues I6 move from under the recessed ends of the blocks and the bars can then be removed and the blocks shifted out of wedging engagement with the bolts. In view of the fact that only one bolt is used and this bolt is spaced from the surface of the bracing plate 1, removal of the blade or shoe will be very easy and can be quickly carried out either by unscrewing the nut 19 or by cutting the bolt between the bars if necessary.

In Figs. 5 and 6, there has been illustrated a modified construction whereby a blade or shoe 2!] may be removably secured along the deflected lip or forward portion 2! of a carryall scraper 22. In this embodiment of the invention, the blade or shoe bears against the sloping face 23 of the scraper and, at points spaced from each other longitudinally of the blade, are formed a suitable number of slots 24 having enlarged end portions 25. Openings 26 to receive a suitable number of bolts 2'. are formed through the lip 2i in spaced relation to each other longitudinally thereof, and these openings lead from pockets 28 in which the heads of the bolts are seated. The opposite side walls of each slot 24 are cut to form ridges 29 disposed at an incline longitudinally of the slot, as shown in Fig. 5, having beveled upper and lower surfaces 29. Companion surfaces 29 converge toward ends of the slot, as shown in Fig. 6. The bolts may pass freely through the enlargements at rear ends of the shots, as the blade is applied, but, as the blade or shoe is shifted rearwardly along the surface 23 of the lip 2!, the ridges 29 will engage in the recesses 30 formed in opposite side portions of the bolts and the upper surface 29 will engage the shoulders at outer ends of the recesses so that outward pull will be exerted upon the bolts. In view of the fact that the surfaces 29' gradually reduce in width toward ends of the slot, rearward shifting of the blade will cause the walls of the slot to be gradually brought into firm gripping engagement with opposite sides of the outer ends of the bolts and these ends of the bolts will be firmly gripped to assist in firmly holding the bolts in place. As thrust upon the blade or shoe 251 is rearward during use of the scraper, strain exerted thereby will tend to tighten the bolts instead of loosening them, and there will be no danger of the blade working loose. By forming the blade beveled along both edges and having walls of the slots formed with ridges 29 having upper and lower surfaces 29 of reversed but otherwise duplicate formation, the blade may be set in place with either face against the surface 23 of the scraper.

When it is desired to remove the blade, it is merely necessary to apply striking force to the rear edge face of the blade and drive it forwardly along the surface 23 of the lip. The ridges 29 will thus be moved. out of pulling and gripping engagement with the bolts and, when the ridges are moved from under the shoulders at the upper ends of the recesses 39, the bolts may be moved downwardly through the slots or the blade lifted out of engagement with the bolts in case the pockets 28 have become clogged. It will thus be seen that while the blade or shoe will be firmly held in place and prevented from slipping out of its proper position during use of the scraper, the blade may be easily removed when necessary.

The scraper 3| shown in Fig. 8 is of the type shown in Fig. 5, and has its depending lip 32 formed with a suitable number of slots or openings 33 spaced from its front edge. The blade or shoe 34 is disposed flat against the sloping surface 35 of the lip 32 and is formed with openings 36 through which the bolts 3'! are passed. The bolts pass through the slots 33 with their lower ends protruding and, in order to secure the bolts, there has been provided a plurality of fastener members 38 carried by a shield 39. The fastener members are in the form of shells open at their rear ends and. having their top walls formed with slots 40 which are of keyhole formation and extend longitudinally of the shells with their enlarged ends 4! at their rear ends. Each bolt is formed with opposite side recesses corresponding to the side recesses 30 of the bolts 21 and when the lower ends of the bolts are passed through the enlarged end portions of the slots 40 and the shield 39 shifted rearwardly to move the bolts toward forward ends of the slots, portions of the top walls of the shells will engage the shoulders at lower ends of the recesses 42 and the bolts will be firmly held in position. Since the lip 32 tapers toward its front edge, a wedging action will take place when rearward strain is applied during use of the scraper and a tighter grip upon the bolts will be created. By mounting wedging blocks within the shells for straddling engagement with the bolts, the cam action will be such that the bolts will be very firmly gripped and accidental release of the blade prevented.

At intervals spaced from each other longitudinally of the shield, certain of the shells carry stems or bolts 42 which pass through ears 43 depending from the scraper. These bolts carry nuts 44 and springs 45 which urge the bolts rearwardly and thus exert rearward pull upon the shells and the shield to prevent the shield from I slipping forwardly out of its proper position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In combination with a scraper, a blade extending along an edge portion of said scraper and formed with openings registering with openings in the scraper, bolts passed through the registering openings and having projecting end portions formed with side recesses having shoulders at their outer ends, wedges straddling the outer 1 end portions of said bolts and having arms passing through the recesses and formed with cam surfaces engaging said shoulders, a bar formed with. sockets receiving said wedges, and means for shifting the bar in a direction to tighten the wedges and retain the bar in itsadjusted position with the wedges in position to exert bindaction against the shoulders and firmly hold the bolts in place.

2. In combination with a scraper, a blade extending along an edge portion of said scraper, bolts passed through the scraper and said blade and having protruding end portions formed with si. e recesses having shoulders at their outer ends, wedges straddling the protruding ends of said bolts and having arms passing through the recesses and formed with cam surfaces engaging said shoulders, a bar formed with openings receiving said wedges, a tongue at one end of each opening of the bar for engaging in recesses formed in the heel portions of the wedges and I creating interlocking engagement between the wedges and the bar, and means for shifting the bar longitudinally to apply pressure to the'heel ends of the wedges and shift the Wedges through the recesses of the bolts for exerting cam action against the shoulders and firmly holding the bolts in place.

3. In combination with a scraper, a blade ex! wedges having slots receiving the protruding end portions of said bolts and arms passing through the recesses and formed with cam surfaces engaging said shoulders, bars spaced from each other and having openings'receiving' said wedges, ears carried by adjacent ends of said bars, and a vbolt engaged through said ears and when tightened serving to draw the bars toward each other ad shift the wedges longitudinally to tighten the bolts engaged thereby and firmly hold the blade 1 in place. 1 r

ALBERT K. JOHNSON. 

